Pipe bomb found in Crumlin

A pipe bomb was found by a local man walking his dog in Crumlin on Wednesday evening.

Around 40 homes were evacuated in the Ballydonaghy area of Crumlin during the security alert that began about 21.30pm.

Six families were given shelter in a nearby community centre while Army bomb disposal officers dealt with the pipe bomb.

The operation ended during the early hours of Thursday morning, as residents were allowed back to their homes and roads were reopened.

Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney condemned those responsible.

“Families were evacuated out of their homes in Ballydonaghy Meadows and Ballydonaghy Road and this incident has caused serious disruption to local people,” he said.

“I commend the community spirit of those locals who have opened a community centre to provide shelter for those families who have been forced out of their homes.

“Their actions are in stark contrast to those responsible for this incident who have nothing to offer but disruption to young and old alike.”

Sinn Féin councillor Anne-Marie Logue said it caused serious disruption for young families and elderly people who were out of their houses for hours.

“Young families were taken out of their homes, some young children were actually asleep at the time - young children who obviously needed to go to school in the morning,” she said.

“Unfortunately this has caused mass disruption in the local community, so those people that are actually responsible for placing this device are just totally and absolutely unacceptable.”